10 Essentials: Aziz Ansari

Aziz Ansari is everywhere these days: driving chopped up Maybachs with Jay and Ye, expounding on his love for mac and cheese in Bon Appetit, traveling the country on massive comedy tours, and playing a loveable loser on Parks and Recreation, one of the funniest shows on TV today. He's also hands down the most stylish comedian in the game, so we talked to him about the dinner jacket he wore to meet POTUS, the best face wash in the world, and the secret source of his boundless energy.

Photo: Getty Images

1. Band of Outsiders Dinner Jacket

"I always wear this dinner jacket on flights so I have a nice blazer with me when I travel. It's extremely versatile—you can go casual with a polo or t-shirt, or you can go formal with dress pants, shirt, and tie. It's a nice upgrade from a normal suit, because of the shawl collar, but it doesn't look too formal like a tux cause the fabric is more casual. It's actually the suit I wore when I met our Commander in Chief. When I was leaving he leaned and whispered, 'Yo Aziz, where can I cop that jacket?' I said, 'I bought at this store called—DON'T TRY TO STEAL MY LOOK MR. PRESIDENT.'"*

*Note: this exchange never happened but the other stuff is true.

Photo: Getty Images

2. Moleskin Notebook

"This is my notebook of choice. I jot all my joke ideas in here. They may start in an iPhone but they eventually make their way to this guy. Pocket size, leather bound, you just can't fuck with it. Supposedly Nelly wrote all the rhymes for 'Country Grammar' in one of these."

Photo: Courtesy Photo

3. Wintercheck Factory William Wallet

"The ultimate way to avoid a George Costanza wallet sitch in your pants. My friend Kristen makes these wallets and they are great. You don't really need all those business cards and junk, just ya cash and ya credit cards. (And also any of those cards you get for eating a lot of the same sandwich where you get one free after eating 10—BEST BELIEVE I DON'T THROW THOSE AWAY SAHN!)"

Photo: Courtesy Photo

4. Facial Fuel

"Question: Does Kiehl's fuck around? Answer: No. Many of my essentials are dictated by my touring/travel schedule and Facial Fuel is essential on tour. When you land in a new city after a long flight, this stuff is so nice and cooling, it wakes your face up and you feel great. I believe it even has caffeine in it. I'm a fan. Side note—my friend Ardie has this discontinued Forest Rain oil/perfume they made that is the best smelling stuff ever. Kiehl's bring it back please!"

Photo: Courtesy of Aziz Ansari

5. Moscot Glasses

"When I'm traveling I bring one pair of shades and one pair of glasses to sub in for contacts. It's currently these pairs of Moscots I got. So great and timeless. If I hear someone talking shit, I sometimes tip the shades down and say 'Hush...'"

Photo: Courtesy of Aziz Ansari

6. Records

"Invest in a record player and records. I can't explain it, but it's just great. I started buying records in high school. This is not to say I'm above putting 'Pop That' by French Montana on Spotify and blasting it over Airport Express through speakers, but nothing beats playing a classic record on your turntable. Here are some I've been playing a lot lately: Beach Boys 'Summer Days,' The Rolling Stones 'Exile on Main St.,' Beach House 'Teen Dream,' LCD Soundsystem 'This is Happening,' A Tribe Called Quest 'Low End Theory,' The Clash 'The Clash,' and Sam Cooke 'One Night Stand.'"

Photo: Wikipedia

7. Cocktail Shaker and Honey Syrup

"After getting addicted to delicious cocktails at fine bars in NYC like PDT and Little Branch, I decided I needed to learn to make cocktails. I mainly focus on my favorites, one of which luckily is quite easy—the Gold Rush. 1 ½ oz. bourbon, ¾ oz. lemon juice (fresh squeezed is ideal, though store bought is acceptable), and ¾ oz. honey syrup. Shake it up in your cocktail shaker and pour it over the biggest ice cubes you can find. The only real work is making the honey syrup—boil up honey and water in 3:1 ratio and then bottle it up. It lasts quite a while."

Photo: Courtesy of Aziz Ansari

8. Aziz Style Cold Espresso Drink

"This is a real issue I want to get out there—I hate getting cold coffee/espresso drinks in the summer cause they end up being so damn watered down. Here's the move: make a shot of espresso (I have a Nespresso machine) and stir in sugar to taste while it's hot so the sugar actually mis. (I'm aware of simple syrup, but I don't like it, can't explain why.) Pour in milk for cool down phase one, then pour this into a cocktail shaker. Shake it up and pour it in a glass for a nice, refreshing, non-watered-down cold coffee beverage. I don't know why every coffee place makes these horrible watered-down coffee drinks. It's a shame."

Photo: Courtesy of Aziz Ansari

9. Esquivel Dress Shoes

"These dress shoes are an investment but so worth it. Once they're broken in? Oh man, forget about it. The best."

Photo: Courtesy of Aziz Ansari

10. Energy Sheets

"These are my secret weapon. I get into a new city for a tour show and I'm dead tired from travel? I pop a sheet and I'm good. It works like a breath strip only it's just Vitamin B, Caffeine, and NO sugar. It keeps you up and alert like a beast. Part of the reason it works so well is that supposedly the caffeine is absorbed through your tongue, so it gets into your system faster than if it was in coffee. Anyone I've given these to are blown away. Trust. You should get sheets."

Aziz Ansari is everywhere these days: driving chopped up Maybachs with Jay and Ye, expounding on his love for mac and cheese in Bon Appetit, traveling the country on massive comedy tours, and playing a loveable loser on Parks and Recreation, one of the funniest shows on TV today. He's also hands down the most stylish comedian in the game, so we talked to him about the dinner jacket he wore to meet POTUS, the best face wash in the world, and the secret source of his boundless energy.